Three Barriers to Taking Action For Animals
As someone who cares about farmed animals, you might find yourself wanting to get more involved. There are some barriers to taking action, though.
First, you might have limited time.
Second, you might not be sure what you want to do.
Third, you might not see anything that fits what you want to do.
To address limited time, my biggest suggestion would be to start very small and build from there. Try 30 minutes, one day a week, where you just commit to doing something, even if that something is internet research about your options. If 30 minutes feels like a lot, make it 10. Or 5. Make it small enough where you actually do it. This is a core strategy to help build new habits.
For uncertainty about what to do, start with research and conversations. Google around. Ask people. Create a short list of things you're interested in, then go try them. Don't commit too deeply to something before knowing that you want to commit. Experimenting and sampling different advocacy approaches helps.
Finally, you might not see things that fit how you want to advocate. Maybe nothing seems like your thing. Maybe you see something missing. In that case, you have two big options. First, you can try to make yourself start to enjoy one of the existing options through repeated exposure and commitment. If you do something with friends (or make new friends), it makes it much better, even if you don't enjoy the activity initially. Second, you can create your own thing and go your own way. If you have actually identified a gap in the movement, or a new technique, then others may appreciate your trailblazing and join you.
And of course, take care of yourself—seriously, make sure you're taking care of your physical, mental, and social health. Your body and mind are the only tools you really have. Taking good care of them is one of the best things you can do, if you want to create an impact for animals. So take breaks, take naps, get 8+ hours of sleep a night, go on long walks, eat good food, drink water, and cut back on coping mechanisms and unhealthy dependencies (like caffeine and alcohol). Your health is crucial.
